Dolphins notebook: Rookie kicker Carpenter impresses

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/635965.html

Dolphins notebook: Rookie kicker Carpenter impresses

BY DAVID J. NEAL
Miami Herald

As well as rookie Dan Carpenter kicked during the two weeks of training camp, it would mean less than nothing if he sprayed his kicks all over the place during exhibition games.

The only place Carpenter sent his kicks Saturday, however, was right where he wanted them. While last year's Dolphins kicker Jay Feely stood on the sideline resting a sore groin, Carpenter knocked in field goals from 41 and 49 yards and had well-placed kickoffs.

Carpenter said this week that the Dolphins were asking him to concentrate on directional kickoffs instead of powering them as deep as he could.

On Saturday, one kickoff went to the Tampa Bay 12 and pinned returner Micheal Spurlock to the left sideline, which helped hold Spurlock to a 10-yard return. Another kickoff was a little deeper, to the Tampa Bay 7, but in the same area. Spurlock made a 17-yard return.

NOT FOR LONG

In the first half, the Dolphins had only one of the presnap offensive penalties so typical of a first exhibition game. That lone penalty was a false start on No. 1 overall pick Jake Long.

Typical stuff, especially for a rookie, right?

Not for Long. In four years at Michigan, just two penalties were called on him.

THE DROPS

The Dolphins signed Ernest Wilford to be a big, possession receiver.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, emphatically, and with eloquence, criticized the number of drops by the receivers and running backs this week.

So the last thing he needed to do was what he did -- drop two passes from Chad Henne, one of which came on third-and-4 and would have extended the Dolphins' first drive of the second half.

FOSTER CARELESS

Undrafted free agent Jayson Foster took punt return duties Saturday night. Instead of showing the darting moves and speed he had in college and practice, Foster muffed the first punt to him.

LINEUP NOTES

• Although Trey Darilek had been listed first on the depth chart at right guard, rookie Donald Thomas has been with the first team in practice and started Saturday night.

• Derek Hagan, the team's most reliable wide receiver in training camp, started over Wilford.

• The starting defensive front was what it had been the past few practice days with Vonnie Holliday hampered by a hamstring injury. Rookies Phillip Merling and Kendall Langford started at defensive end, where Holliday and Matt Roth began camp.

Roth started at outside linebacker, where Joey Porter usually makes his living. Holliday, Porter, Feely and cornerback Michael Lehan (ankle) weren't in uniform.

MONEY MATTERS

Chad Pennington's two-year contract, reported to be worth $11.5 million, is worth that only if all of the incentives are reached.

More realistically, the contract will end up being worth between $7.5 million and $8 million.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I still stand by Jay Feely as the kicker.  He earned the right with his season last year to be the starter this year and until he starts missing in the regular season, he deserves to stay in that role.

Still, Parcells may gamble and go with the rookie.... although in the past that has not always worked for this team. 

[fyo]

Still, Parcells may gamble and go with the rookie....

There are several recent cases where young kickers have looked great in camp and preseason, then completely folded once the season started. Michael Koenon of the Falcon is one.

I'm just not sure I want us experimenting on this spot. Our teams sucks enough as it is, to be reasonably certain of great consistency at kicker seems like too valuable a thing to throw away just for a little extra potential.

Carpenter needs to be head and shoulders above Feely, IMO, for him to win the job.

[DolFan619]

  I could care less as to what Feely did last year.  If Carpenter continues to outplay Feely in both practices and preseason games, he should start.  Bottom line.

[dolphins4life]

^^^^^

No way in the world should preseason and practice performances be valued over game performances

[Rick]

^^^^^

No way in the world should preseason and practice performances be valued over game performances

  This does not make any sense....Why even bother having an open competition, if you are going to give the job to Feely because of what he did last season?....Dan Carpenter is Healthy and is outperforming Feely so far this camp and preseason...As of right NOW, Carpenter has earnerd the right to be Miami's kicker.

[Spider-Dan]

Why bother having an open competition for someone that is already doing his job well in the first place?

Carpenter should be here as insurance for Feely... that's it.  It's not like we need youth at the kicker position.